Thermoplastic film plate data storage equipment



NOV- 23, 1965 w. c. HUGHES ETAL 3,219,983

THERMOPLASTIC FILM FLATE DATA STORAGE EQUIPMENT 16 Sheets-Sheet 1Original Filed Aug. 25, 1958 Nov. 23, 1965 w c. HUGHES ETAL 3,219,983

THERMOPLASTIC FILM PLATE DATA STORAGE EQUIPMENT original Filed Aug. 25,1958 16 Sheets-Sheet 5 555K S/GWAL F/N/.SHED PULSE fr? Ver? 60115 kwh//y//m c. Wig/,e5 f/Ohn f. waffe 53 by M/gh Nov. 23, 1965 w. c. HUGHESETAL.

THERMOPLASTIC FILM PLATE DATA STORAGE EQUIPMENT 16 Sheets-Sheet 4Original Filed Aug. 25, 1958 was NLT@ S Y a mmh .d J. mmllllllrv fr)Ver; ors h//V//m rfc/m Ney Nov., 23, N65

W C. HUGHES ETAL THERMOPLASTIC FILM PLATE DATA STORAGE EQUIPMENTOriginal Filed Aug. 25, 1958 16 Sheets-Sheet 5 y M il f/yl 7729/2W550/wey Nov, 23, 1965 w. c. HUGHES ETAL 3,29933 THERMOPLASTIC FILMPLATE DATA STORAGE EQUIPMENT 16 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Aug. 25,1958 Nov. 23, 1965 w. c. HUGHES ETAL THERMOPLASTIC FILM PLATE DATASTORAGE EQUIFMEN 16 Sheets-Sheet '7 Original Filed Aug. 2"

u@ @IMK/k Nov, 23, 1965 We c. HUGHES ETAL 3,29983 THERMOPLASTIC FILMPLATE DATA STORAGE EQUIPMENT 16 Sheets-Sheet 8 Original Filed Aug. 25,1958 /27 ven ons h//W/ /9 or umu/ Illll l |.l ||||||||IN| L Nov. 23,1965 w. c. HUGHES ETAL 3.219.933

THERMCPLASTC FILM PLATE DATA STORAGE EQUIPMENT 16 Sheets-Shea.I 9

Original Filed Aug. 25, 1958 (fo/1n f. Waffe Nov. 23, 1965 w. c. HUGHESETAL 3,219,983

THERMOPLASTIC FILM PLATE DATA STORAGE EQUIPMENT 16 Sheets-Sheet 10Original Filed Aug. 25, 1958 Nov. 23, 1965 w. c. HUGHES ETAL 3,219,983

THERMOPLASTIC FILM PLATE DATA STORAGE EQUIPMENT 16 Sheets-Sheet 11Original Filed Aug. 25, 1958 INQNTNN .2Mo I W C HUGHES ETALTHERMOPLASTIC FILM PLATE DATA STORAGE EQUIPMENT Nn Y@ MSSMT S m e m a#m, MM w @Wk/Jam w n A l. n w W0 f 2, u mw n C. Mh s m f. a m www fm n 1\Q\ FA .m M ,m ,m M d h L d .Nk

Nov. 23, 1965 w. c. HUGHES ETAL 3,219,983

THERMOPLASTIC FILM PLATE DATA STORAGE EQUIPMENT 16 Sheets-Sheet 15Original Filed Aug. 25, 1958 RS m @Mx w @WJW www Se Nom.

Nov. 23, 1965 w. c. HUGHES ETAL 3,219,983

THERMOPLASTIC FILM PLATE DATA STORAGE EQUIPMENT Original Filed Aug. 25,1958 16 Sheets-Sheet 14 MIZ Nov. 23, 1965 w. c. HUGHES ETAL 3,219,933

THERMOPLASTIC FILM PLATE DATA STORAGE EQUIPMENT 16 Sheets-Sheet 15Original Filed Aug. 25, 1958 @SRS r S Nov, 23, 1965 W. C. HUGHES ETALTHERMOPLASTIC FILM PLATE DATA STORAGE EQUIPMENT Original Filed Aug. 25,1958 i6 Sheets-Sheet 16 United States Patent 9 claims. (ci. 34e-173) Thepresent invention relates to new and improved plate data storageequipment; and is a division of copending U.S. Patent application SerialNo. 757,083 filed August 25, 1958 and now abandoned on a ThermoplasticFilm Data Storage Equipment, William C. Hughes and John E. Wolfe,inventors, assigned to the General Electric Co., the same assignee asthe present invention.

More particularly, the invention relates to a plate data storageequipment that is capable of storing relatively large quantities ofinformation in a small space.

With the use of electronic and electro-mechanical computers becomingmore widespread throughout industry, the need for greatly improvedautomatically operable data storage equipment has become more pressing.Existing data storage equipment of this type such as the magnetic taperecorder, magnetic memory core matrices, and magnetic memory drums areall quite limited in the amount of data that they are capable of storingrelative to their size, for as the quantity of `data stored increases,the size of these equipments increase proportionally and becomesunreasonably large.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the invention to provide new andimproved plate data storage equipment that is capable of storing largequantities of data (over a billion bits of information), and that isrelatively small in comparison to the quantity of data which it iscapable of storing.

In practicing the invention a plate data storage equipment is providedwhich utilizes a plate having an impressionable thermoplastic mediumformed on one of `its surfaces and includes an electron beam writingapparatus for impressing electrons on the thermoplastic medium indesired data information bearing patterns. The equipment furtherincludes positioning means for accurately positioning the thermoplasticmedium in a desired location with respect to the electron beam writingapparatus, and position control means for accurately controlling theoperation of the positioning means. It is also anticipated that theequipment includes heating means for conditioning the plastic medium toaccept the electron patterns to be written thereon, and curing themedium after impression of the electron patterns thereon to permanentlyset the patterns. The equipment also includes read out means forinspecting a thermoplastic medium having data bearing patterns formedthereon for deriving an output electric signal indicative of such data.In the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, the positioningmeans comprises a tray of separate plates each having the impressionablethermoplastic recording medium secured thereto with the tray beingpositionable in two directions. The positioning means further includesan extraction mechanism for removing any desired one of the plates anddisposing it adjacent either the electron beam writing apparatus or theread out means and thereafter returning the plate to the tray, togetherwith tabulating means for recording the position in the tray of plateshaving desired information stored thereon.

Other objects, features and many of the attendant advantages of thisinvention will be appreciated more readily as the same becomes betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description, whenconsidered in .a y ICC connection with the accompanying drawings,wherein like parts in each of the several figures are identified by thesame reference character, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a new and improved plate storageequipment constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side View of a plate holder and extraction mechanismcomprising a part of the plate storage equipment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG 3 is a functional block diagram of the control circuits used foractuating the plate holder and extraction mechanism shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a plate servo mechanism used inpositioning the plate holder of the plate holder and extractionmechanism shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of the comparison circuits comprising a partof the plate servo mechanism shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of the delay and rewrite logic circuitscomprising a part of the servo mechanism shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing the start circuitconnections of the plate servo mechanism illustrated in FIG. 4 of thedrawings;

FIG. 8 is a combined block diagram and circuit diagram showing thedetails of construction of the servo motor addressing and drivingcircuits that are used in the plate servo mechanism shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of the writing system comprising apart of the plate storage equipment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a combined block diagram and circuit diagram showing thedetails of construction of a magnetic core storage device comprising apart of the plate storage equipment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram of the output control logic circuits usedin the writing system of FIG. 9;

FIG. l2 is a circuit `diagram of the `details of construction of thedeflection circuits used in the writing system of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram of the control grid driving circuitcomprising a part of the Writing system shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram of the beam splitter exciting circuitcomprising a part of the writing system shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 15 is a functional block diagram of the reading system used in theplate storage equipment `shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings;

FIG. 16 is a circuit diagram showing the construction of the deliectioncircuits comprising a part of the reading system of FIG. l5;

FIG. 17 is a functional block diagram showing the arrangement of theread out optics structure used in the reading system of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17a is a fragmentary View of the thermoplastic film surface of amemory plate, and illustrates the manner -in which data is recorded onthe plate surface.

FIG. 18 is a circuit diagram showing the construction of thephotomultiplier and video amplifier circuits used in the reading systemof FIG. 15

FIG. 19 is a circuit diagram of the block edge recognition circuitscomprising a part of the reading system shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 2() is a circuit diagram of the read out logic circuits comprisinga part of the reading system shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 21 is a functional block diagram of the controller unit whichcomprises a part of the plate storage equipment shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 22 is a combined functional block diagram and circuit diagramshowing the excitation circuits for the may be picked out by the holder.

flying spot scanner tube used in the reading system of FIG. 15.

PLATE DATA STORAGE EQUIPMEMNT (General block diagram) The general blockdiagram of a second thermoplastic film data recording system isillustrated in FIG. l of the drawings. This system is designed for usewith 256 plates having a thermoplastic medium on the surface thereofupon which blocks of data are recorded. Each plate, for example, may beapproximately one inch by one inch square and is designed to accommodatesome 164 x 64 blocks of bits of information, with each block containing32 x 32 bits of information in binary digital data form. The bits ofinformation are, in fact, light optical diffraction gratings formed by aseries of parallel lines formed into the thermoplastic film surface, andmay be classified into basically two different sets of gratings or bits,The first set of gratings refiects a first characteristic color light,such as blue, and represents a binary zero bit; with the second set ofgratings having a different grating spacing from the rst set (that is,the spacing between bars or lines making up the second set of gratingsis different from the spacing between the bars or lines of the first setof gratings) so as to reflect a characteristic color, such as yellow,representing a binary one bit. One such plate is shown at 601 and isheld in position for use by a plate holder that comprises a part of aplate extraction mechanism 602. The plate extraction mechanism 602operates to extract desired plates from a plate storage device 604 thatis designed to accommodate some 4 x 64 or 256 plates similar to theplate 601. For this purpose, the plate storage device 604 may bepositioned in a vertical direction by a plate servo drive motor 605, andis positioned horizontally by a second plate servo drive motor 606. Theservo motors 605 and 606 are controlled from a plate address registerand memory device 607 which in turn is controlled from a computer 608and a controller unit 609. The computer 608 supplies to the addressregister 607 the identification data of a particular plate contained inthe plate storage device 604 which it desires to select. The plateaddress register and memory device 607 then operates servo motors 605and 606 to position the plate storage device 604 opposite the plateholder of extraction mechanism 602 in a manner such that the desiredplate Upon reaching this position, a plate extractor 611 operates toplace the desired plate in the holder, and sequentially to replace theplate 601 that previously had been on the holder into the open spotwhere the newly requested plate had been located. The plate addressregister and memory devcie 607 will then record the location of thereplaced plate in the plate storage device 604 so that a runningtabulation is maintained at all times of the location of all of theplates in the plate storage device.

The plate 601 after having been received by the holder is properlypositioned by a position servo motor 612 in both directions in the planeof the drawings, and by a position servo motor 613 into and out of theplane of the drawings. The position servo motors 612 and 613 eachcomprise a part of a complete selsyn system, one of which is shown forpurpose of illustration in the right hand portion of the drawings. Eachof the selsyn systems include a servo motor, such as 612, whichmechanically drives the plate holder 602 through a suitable gearingarrangement to position the holder 602 in a desired vertical location.Also mechanically connected to the plate holder of the extractionmechanism 602 is a sel-syn generator 614 to which a control energizingpotential is supplied from an analog to digital converter 617 which isactuated by an address register 618 to which an address is supplied bythe computer 608. Selsyn generator 614 develops a position indicatingerror signal that is connected back through servo amplifier 616 to theservo motor 612 to accurately position the plate holder.

In order to properly position the servo motor 612, a control voltage issupplied to the selsyn generator 614 from the digital to analogconverter 617 that operates to develop -an analog control potential inresponse to a digital data address supplied to the address register 618from the computer 608. lf it is desired to write data on plate 601, thenthe plate 601 in the plate holder is located by the position servomotors 612 and 612 over electron beam writing apparatus 619 within anevacuated space, and which will be described more fully hereinafter, butwhich functions to form a series of marks or lines making up diffractiongratings representing bits of informtaion on the thermoplastic filmsurface of the plate 601. Operation of the electron beam wiringapparatus 619 is controlled by a deflection circuit 622 which isactuated by the controller unit 609 of the system, and has theinformation to be written on the plate 601 supplied thereto from amagnetic memory core matrix 621 which serves as a working memory for theplate storage equipment. The deflection circuit 622 controls theoperation of the electron beam writing apparatus -to the extent that itcauses it to trace out desired repetitive patterns which have the dataintelligence supplied from the magnetic memory core matrix 621 modulatedthereon. The magnetic memory core vmatrix 621 is also connected to thecomputer 608 so that information to be written on plate 601 may be firstsupplied from the computer and stored in the matrix. The information maythen be read out of the memory core matrix 621 and supplied to theelectron beam writing apparatus which then modifies the lines ordiffraction gratings being formed to incorporate the data supplied fromthe core shift register into the diffraction gratings or bits beingformed on the thermoplastic film surface of the plate 601. After writingthe data to be stored on the surface of the thermoplastic medium ofplate 601, it may be desirable to cure the medium by supplying heat froma pair of radio frequency heating electrodes 623 energized from a radiofrequency heating control circuit 624 that in turn is controlled by 4thecontroller unit 609 of the data storage equipment. R. F. heatingelectrodes 623 also serve to erase previously recorded data on thesurface of the thermoplastic film of plate 601 by applying sufficientheat thereto for a period of time long enough to melt the thermoplasticmedium to a viscous state to remove the lines formed therein by theelectron beam writing apparatus 619.

For best results with known thermoplastic mediums, it is also advisableto heat the surface of the fil-m prior to Writing. F or this purpose,the R. F. heating electrodes 623 are also used so that after writing onthe plate 601, a cycle of operations is followed which consists of heating the thermoplastic -medium of plate 601 through the action of a radiofrequency field on a transparent electrically conductive substrateunderneath the thermoplastic' film medi-um to .a temperature ofapproximately C. for about two one-hundredths of a second. The surfaceis then allowed to cool for about two one-hundredths of a second to atemperature of 50 C. Upon rea-ching this condition, the electron beamwriting apparatus is then actuated, and the block of data desired to berecorded is written on the thermoplastic medium of the plate at aselected location. Subsequent to writing a complete block of 32 x 32bits or sets of gratings, the block of data just recorded is then heatedfor two onehundredths of a second at a temperature of 10C-150 C. toeffect curing of the medium. The surface is then allowed to cool down toroom temperature and the data is thereby permanently set into andrecorded on the thermoplastic surface of the plate. The plate may thenbe stored in the plate storage device by plate extraction mechanism 602for storage over an indefinite period.

If it is desired to read out information previously stored on a desiredvplate stored in the plate storage device 604, the position servo motors612 and 613 are actuated to place the plate extraction mechanism 602 linthe plate loading position, and the plate servo -rnotors 605 and 606 areactuated to locate the desired plate in front of the plate holder. Theextractor 611 is then actuated and loads the desired plate in the plateholder which is again moved by position servo motors 612 and 613 tolocate the desired block of information on the selected plate 601 undera read out device. The read out device -comprises a flying spot scanner625 actuated by a deflection circuit 626 that is controlled from thecontroller unit 609. The flying spot scanner 625 produces a scanningspot of light that is focussed by a light optics system 627 on the blockof data being read out so that the scanning spot of light traces overthe lines of groups of gratings or bits of data in the block. As thescanning spot of light traces over the lines of data bits in the block,colored light characteristic of ones (1s) and zero (0) gratings or bitsis transmitted through the plate holder and a selective color lter toeither one of a pair of photocell devices 628 and 629. The photocelldevices 628 and 629 are also controlled from controller 609 so a-s to beactuated thereby upon the deflection :circuits 626 and flying spotscanner 625 being operated. Pulse wave form output signal potentialsdeveloped by the photocell devices 628 and 629 are supplied to an outputlogic circuit 631 that in turn is connected to the magnetic memory corematrix 621 that serves as a working memory for the equipment. In thismanner, the data read out from plate 601 by the photocells 628 and 629is stored in the memory matrix 621 for use by the computer 608 asrequired. Having described the basic organization and operation of theplate data storage equipment comprising a part of the present invention,its details of construction and operation thereof will be disclosed morefully in the drawings described hereinafter.

Plate holder and extraction mechanism The details of construction of theplate holder and extraction mechanism are shown in FIG. 2 of thedrawings wherein the plate holder device is illustrated at 604, and theextraction mechanism is illustrated at 602. The plate holder 604comprises a tray 635 having four vertically larranged rows of 64receptacles 636, each for receiving and storing the 7/ 10 x 7/10 of aninch plate which have thermoplastic film surfaces with data recordedthereon. The tray 635 may be moved vertically up and down along a track640 on a vertical stand 637 by the vertical plate servo motor 606. Thevertical plate servo motor 606 drives vertically movable tray 635through a pinion gear 638 keyed to the shaft thereof which meshes with arack 639 secured to the tray 635. The vertically movable tray 635 has asecond rack 641 secured thereto which operates through a pinion gear 642to rotate a plate potentiometer 643 that develops an output electricalsignal indicative of the vertical position of the tray 635. Tofacilitate moving the tray 635 up and down, the tray is secured to acounterweight 644 by means of a cable 645 hung over a pulley wheel 646that is rotatably secured to the top of the vertical stand 637. Thevertical stand 637 itself is supported on roller bearings 647 in groove648 formed in the lower part of member 649 so that the vertical stand637 may be moved horizontally in and out of the plan-e of the drawingsas shown. Additional bearings 647 in the upper part of member 649 keepthe stand vertical. The vertical stand 637 is driven in either these twodirections by the plate servo motor 605 which operates through a pinion651 and rack 652 that is secured to vertical stand 637. A second rack653 secured to the opposite side of stand 637 drives a pinion 654 whichin turn drives a potentiometer 655 for developing an electric signalrepresentative of the horizontal position of vertical stand 637, andhence representative of the horizontal position of plate holder tray635. The vertical stand 637 is retained in any horizontal position towhich it is driven by the plate servo motor 605 by a solenoid operatedhorizontal detent 656 which releases upon the servo motor 605 beingenergized, and is retained in any desired vertical position by asolenoid operated vertical detent 657 which releases upon the servomotor 606 being energized. The servo motors 605 and 606 will drive thevertically movable tray 635 and horizontally movable stand 637 toposition a desired plate stored in tray 635 opposite an extractor 611,and upon reaching this position will be locked into place by the detents656 and 657. The desired plate positioned opposite extractor 611 is thenpushed out of the plate holder tray 635 and into the extractionmechanism 602.

The extraction mechanism 602 comprises a pair of opposed holding arms661 and 662 with each of the holding arms having respective holding jawsindicated at 663 and 664, each of which, as shown in the cutaway viewimmediately over arm 661, includes a bow spring 660 for retaining theplate in the jaw after loading by extractor 611. Assuming the extractionmechanism 602 to have been driven to its plate loading position by theposition servos 612 and 613 where holding arm 661 places its holding jawin the position shown at 663 to receive the plates pushed therein by theextractor 611. The holding jaw 663 will then hold the plate duringrotation of the holding jaw 663 to the position now occupied by theholding jaw 664 where data contained on the plate being held can beeither read out by the read out device 625 of the equipment, or new datamay be written on the plate by writing apparatus 619. For this purpose,the holding arms 661 and 662 are rotatably supported on a shaftjournaled in a. U-shaped supporting post, one side of which is shown at665, with the shaft being keyed to a pinion gear 666 that is driven by arack 667. Rack 667 is connected to a reciprocally movable air drivenactuator 668 that is in turn controlled by a solenoid operated air valve706. By this arrangement, upon the extractor 611 loading a plate in theplate holding jaw 663, the actuator 668 rotates the holding arm 661counterclockwise from thel position shown to place the plate under theread or write devices 625 or 619 in the position where the holding clamp664 is presently shown. Simultaneously, holding clamp 664 is rotatedcounterclockwise to the position where holding clamp 663 is presentlyshown. A switch tab 670 secured to holding arm 662 actuatesmicroswitches 669 and 671 mounted on opposite sides of post 665 toderive an electric signal indicating the position of the arms 661 and662 and that the holding jaws 663 and 664 are in the plate loading orwrite-read position. Accordingly, upon the holding arm 662 reaching theplate unloading position, tab 670 actuates microswitch 669, and theplate that had been held by holding jaw 664 is removed by an ejector 687and placed into the storage tray 635 at the point from which the platenow in the holding jaw 663 was removed. The ejector 687 comprises anL-shaped arm linked to a inger 689 which is driven by a spring andinserts itself in a slot 686 or 688 formed in the respective holdingarms 661 and 662 behind the holding jaws 663 and 664, respectively. Thelinger has a small camming pin that engages a camming surface thatguides the finger 689. The L-shaped arm also has a small tab thereonwhich closes a microswitch 680 upon the ejector being actuated.Actuation of ejector 687 causes the linger to be inserted in slot 686 or688 behind the plate. The linger then follows down cam surface to pushthe plate into the empty slot in tray 635. At the end of travel of thefinger, switch contact 680 is closed whereupon the bias spring in aircylinder returns the finger to its inactive position and withdraws itfrom slot 686 or 688. It is understood that the ejector 687 andextractor 611 are mounted on separate supports from arm 661 and stand637 so that these last two parts are free to move.

Having positioned a plate to be read or written upon under the write orread device 619 or 625, it is then necessary to properly locate adesired block of data on the 602 to the loading position.

plate under either one of these two devices. For this purpose, twoposition selsyn systems are provided which make it possible to move theplates both horizontally and vertically within a restricted area tothereby locate any desired one of the 64 x 64 blocks of data on thesurface of the plate under either the read or Write devices. For thispurpose, the vertical supporting post 665 is movably supported inbearings 672 that in turn are rotatably supported on a slide carriage673. The vertical supporting post 665 is moved up and down by thevertical position servo motor 612 which is shafted to a pinion gear 674that drives a rack 675 secured to the vertical supporting post 665.vAlso secured to the vertical supporting post 665 is a second rack 676which operates through a pinion 'gear 677 to drive a vertical positionselsyn 678. The vertical position selsyn generator 678 then develops anelectric output signal which provides an indication of the 'verticalposition of the vertical supporting post 66S, and hence of the verticalposition of the plate held thereon. The slide carriage 673 is alsomovable horizontally in both directions on the plane of the drawing, andfor this purpose is movably supported by a set of roller bearings 679which are rotatably secured to an extension 681 of the base member 649.In order to move the slide carriage 673, the horizontal postion servomotor 613 is provided, and drives the slide carriage through a pinion682 and rack 683 secured to the slide carriage. Slide carriage 673 alsohas an additional rack 684 secured thereto which drives a pinion 685that is shafted to a horizontal selsyn generator 686. The selsyngenerator 686 then develops an output electric signal which isindicative of the horizontal position of the slide carriage 673, andhence is indicative of the horizontal position of the plate held inplate holding clamp 664. By this arrangement, the plates held in theplate holding clamps 664 or 663 are moved horizontally and verticallywithin the view of the writing device 619 or read out means 625.

The control system which controls the operation of the plate holdingdevice and extraction mechanism 601-602 is illustrated in FIG. 3 of thedrawings. This control system includes a first flip flop amplifier 691which iS identical in construction and operation to the liip flopamplifier 34E-1 of the block edge recognition circuits to be describedhereinafter, and which receives a finished `signal from the computerindicating that the computer is finished with a particular plate thenbeing supported in the position shown by the holding arm 662 in FIG. 2.This computer finished signal sets flip flop 691 so that a negativepolarity energizing signal is provided at its normal output terminal,and is supplied to a diode rectifier 692 of an and gate 693. The -outputfrom the inverted output terminal drops to zero which allows positionservos 612 and 613 to move the extraction mechanism After moving theplate extraction mechanism 602 to the plate loading position, both theposition servos 612 and 613 provide a servo finished signal to an andgate 694 that opens and provides a trigger pulse to a flip flopamplifier 695. Flip flop 695 v`is identical to flip fiop 691, andsupplies a negative polarity energizing signal from its normal output toa diode rectifier 696 of and gate 693. Concurrently with this action,upon being set the computer has supplied an address to the plate servos605 and 606 which causes these servos to position the desired plate infront of the extractor 11, and upon this operation being complete, aplate servo finished signal will be provided from the plate servos 605and 606 as a set trigger pulse to a flip fiop amplifier 697. Flip flop697 is similar to fiip flop 691, and develops a negative energizingpotential at its normal output terminal which is connected to a dioderectifier 698 of and gate 693. The output of and gate 693 is connectedto a fiip-fiop amplifier 699 that is simi- -lar to 691, and which inturn has its inverse output connected to the control grid of electrontube 701 Whose plate is connected to a source of positive platepotential through a sensitive relay winding 702. Relay winding 702actuates the solenoid controlled air valve 702 that controls airsupplied to the extractor 611 to actuate the extractor which in pushingthe desired plate into the holding jaw 663 positioned opposite it,closes a switch 700 that resets fiip flop 699. The inverse outputterminal of fiip fiop 699 is also connected through a delay circuit 703,and through the switch contacts 6990i and 671a controlled by the holderarms 661 and 662 that are connected to both the set and reset inputterminals, respectively, of a fiip liop amplifier 704. Flip fiopamplifier 704 has its inverted output terminal connected to the controlgrid of an electron tube 705 that has its anode electrode connected to asource of positive plate potential through a sensitive relay winding ofthe solenoid air valve 706. Solenoid air valve 706 controls the airsupplied to actuator 668 of plate extraction mechanism 602 to controlmovement of the holder arms 661 and 662. The switch contacts 669b and67119 of switches 669 and 671 are also connected in parallel to the setinput terminal of a fiip flop amplifier 707 that has its .reset inputterminal connected through switch contact 680 to a source of negativepotential to which switch contacts 669]: and 671b are also connected.Flip flop 707 is similar to fiip flop 691 and has its inverse outputconnected to the control grid of an electron tube 708 which has itsanode connected to a source of positive plate potential through asensitive relay winding of the solenoid operated air valve 769 which inturn controls the air supplied to air operated ejector 690. The inverseoutput from flip fiop amplifier 707 which develops a negative triggerpulse upon being reset by switch 680 is also connected back to the resetinput terminals of each of the fiip fiops 691, 695, and 697, and isconnected back to the computer to indicate that the plate transferOperation has been completed.

In operation, the plate holding device and extraction mechanism functionin the following manner. At the end of a reading or writing cycle, theextraction mechanism 602 will be in the position illustrated in FIG. 2of the drawings where the plate which has just been read out or writtenupon will be held in the plate holding jaw 664 of the holding arm 662,and the plate holding jaw 663 of the holding arm 661 will be empty. Uponreceiving a computer finished signal from the computer 608, fiip flop691 will be set and will actuate the position servos 612 and 613 tocause them to drive the plate extraction mechanism to the plate loadingposition. For this purpose the servo motor 612 and its associated selsyngenerator 678 are included in a selsyn system identical to that shown inFIG. 2 of the drawings of the above-identified parent .application Ser.No. 757,083 with the exception that address register and cross barswitches and 86 thereof are modified to provide only 64 x 64 distinctsettings for the servo motor, thereby obviating the need for fineposition control transformer 113 and selector switch 112. The servomotor 613 and its associated selsyn generator 686 are included in asimilarly modified servo mechanism positioning system. The positivegoing output potential from flip flop 691 controls the grid of anelectron tube 711 in the servo system shown in the lower left handcorner 'of FIG. 2 of application Ser. No. 757,083. Tube 711 has itsanode connected to a source of positive potential through a sensitiverelay winding 712 that actuates a selector switch 713. Switch 713 in itsunenergized condition connects conductors 93 and 94 from the crossbarswitches 85, 86 to selsyn primary Winding 50, and in the energizedcondition connects selsyn primary winding 50 to the tapped and groundedsecondary of a transformer 714 connected across the reference voltagesupply. Accordingly, a reference potential is applied throughtransformer 714 to the primary winding 50` of the selsyn generators 684

9. IN A DIGITAL DATA INFORMATION STORAGE DEVICE THE COMBINATION OF ANIMPRESSIONABLE PLASTIC FILM STORAGE MEDIUM, AN ELECTRON BEAM WRITINGAPPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING ELECTRONS ON AN IMPRESSIONABLE PLASTIC FILMSTORAGE MEDIUM IN DESIRED PATTERNS, HEATING MEANS FOR CONDITIONING THEPLASTIC FILM STORAGE MEDIUM TO ACCEPT THE ELECTRON PATTERNS AND FORCURING THE MEDIUM AFTER IMPRESSION OF THE ELECTRON PATTERNS THEREON TOPERMANENTLY SET THE PATTERNS, A READ OUT DEVICE FOR INSPECTING DISCRETEAREAS OF THE PLASTIC FILM STORAGE MEDIUM AND DERIVING AN OUTPUT ELECTRICSIGNAL INDICATIVE OF THE INTELLIGENCE IMPRESSED ON THE PLASTIC FILMSTORAGE MEDIJM, READ OUT LOGICAL CIRCUIT MEANS OPERATIVELY COUPLED TOSAID READ OUT DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF THE READ OUTDEVICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH A PRE-SET SCHEDULE, AN ELECTRICALLY OPERATIVEMEMORY DEVICE COUPLED TO SAID READ OUT MEANS FOR STORING DISCRETEAMOUNTS OF INTELLIGENCE SIGNALS SUPPLIED THERETO BY SAID READ OUT MEANS,POSITIONING MEANS FOR POSITIONING SAID PLASTIC FILM STORAGE MEDIUM INANY DESIRED LOCATION WITH RESPECT TO SAID ELECTRON BEAM WRITINGAPPARATUS, SAID HEATING AND SAID READ OUT MEANS, POSITION CONTROL MEANSCOMPRISING A FIRST SELSYN SYSTEM FOR ACCURATELY CONTROLLING THEOPERATION OF THE POSITIONING EANS TO POSITION THE PLASTIC FILM STORAGEMEDIUM IN A FIRST DIMENSION, A SECOND SELSYN SYSTEM ACCURATELYCONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF THE POSITIONING MEANS TO POSITION THEPLASTIC FILM STORAGE MEDIUM IN A SECOND DIMENSION SUBSTANTIALLY AT RIGHTANGLES WITH RESPECT TO THE FIRST DIMENSION, AND A DIGITAL TO ANALOGCONVERTER FOR CONTROLLING EACH OF SAID SELSYN SYSTEMS IN RESPONSE TODIGITAL TYPE CONTROL SIGNALS, AND PROGRAM CONTROL CIRCUIT MEANS FORSELECTIVELY CONTROLLING OPERATION OF SAID ELECTRON BEAM WRITINGAPPARATUS, SAID DIGITAL TO ANALOG CONVERTERS, SAID HEATING MEANS ANDSAID READ OUT LOGICAL CIRCUIT MEANS, SAID POSITIONING MEANS COMPRISING ATRAY OF SEPARATE PLATE-LIKE ELEMENTS THAT IS MOVABLE IN A DIRECTIONPARALLEL TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE TRAY, AN EJECTION MECHANISM FORREMOVING ANY DESIRED ONE OF THE ELEMENTS AND DISPOSING IT ADJACENT THEELECTRON BEAM WRITING APPARATUS AND READ OUT MEANS AND RETURNING IT TOTHE TRAN, AND TABULATING MEANS FOR RCORDING THE POSITION IN THE TRAY OFPLATE ELEMENTS HAVING DESIRED INFORMATION STORED THEREON, THE PLATEELEMENTS HAVING THE IMPRESSIONABLE PLASTIC FILM SECURED THERETO, ANDSAID READ OUT MEANS COMPRISING A FLYING SPOT SCANNER FOR SCANNING THEPLATE ELEMENTS AND PROJECTING AN OPTICAL IMAGE INDICATIVE OF THEINTELLIGENCE PATTERNS FORMED ON THE PLATE ELEMENTS, AND A PAIR OFPHOTOCELLS EACH RESPONSIVE TO LIGHT OF A COLOR DIFFERENT FROM THAT OFTHE OTHER POSITIONED TO VIEW THE OPTICAL IMAGE.